Initially, I considered not going.

I have never been too involved in politics — I am terrified of Republican fear-mongering tactics, but I don't quite trust the Democrats either. In 2014, I followed the boycott of the White House iftar pretty closely. I was disturbed by the White House's complicity and/or silence on Guantanamo, NSA spying on Muslim American leaders, drone strikes, Israeli attacks in Gaza, and more. Like the boycotters in 2014, I was worried that going to this event might seem like an endorsement of military action throughout the Muslim world.

"You're a journalist now," he said. "You have to be neutral. It may feel like you're endorsing policies you don't agree with, but what other people think isn't a good enough reason to reject the invitation."

Not pictured: the actual moment where this conversation happened.

So, I boarded a morning Amtrak and off I went. I was late, because I have never learned to be anything else.

A few introductory speakers took the stage, including Zaki Barzinji, the White House liaison to Muslim Americans and one of the organizers of the event, as well as a few young Muslim American women who read Qur'an and letters they had written to President Obama.

In the most tense moment of his speech, an audience member interjected "Syria!" while Obama was listing locations afflicted by violence this Ramadan.

THE PRESIDENT: despite what you may sometime hear, you’ve got to know that you’re a valued part of the American family, and there’s nothing that you cannot do. (Applause.)

So during what was a difficult Ramadan, where we saw hundreds of innocent lives taken in Istanbul and Dhaka, and Baghdad and Medina, as well as in Orlando and Nice --

AUDIENCE MEMBER: Syria.

THE PRESIDENT: And Syria -- I was getting to Syria, but -- well, look, I mean, the brutal images and suffering that are taking place there are heartbreaking. And so the message has to be sent that we will stand with our friends and our allies around the world, including Muslim communites; that we will engage with those who want peace; that we will go after those who will harm innocents; that we will encourage dialogue not just between faiths, but oftentimes within the Muslim faith itself, which has driven violence in some parts of the world.

And in the face of terrorism, we will prevail. But we will prevail by working together, not driving each other apart. (Applause.)

In an event filled with celebration of Muslim American leadership, this moment really stuck with me. I understood it as a reference to the over 70 civilians killed by US airstrikes in Manbij, which I had hoped the President would address.

Regardless of my complicated feelings towards the event, it was great seeing so many Muslim leaders who have, in their own way, tried to change the world. But it was also bittersweet, given the current tense political climate around immigration and American Muslims.